Scottish Executive

Community Care

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue funding the carers strategy for carers’ respite and support at the conclusion of the current three-year funding cycle.

Mr Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32152 on 16 December 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Community Care

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available to the voluntary sector for training as a consequence of the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 and the carers strategy.

Mr Frank McAveety: In the period 2000-03 the Executive has provided £99,000 for training to organisations in the voluntary sector that specifically support carers. Over the same period we have also provided £500,000 to voluntary sector bodies to help implement the Carers Strategy, including the development of carer-related training tools. The Executive also provides substantial resources to local authorities and the voluntary sector to support carers, and some of these resources will be used for training purposes.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a proven scientific link between humans eating beef from cows infected with BSE and subsequently developing new variant CJD.

Malcolm Chisholm: The view of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, which provides independent expert scientific advice to ministers on matters concerning spongiform encephalopathies, is that the most likely explanation of the vCJD cases that have occurred to date is exposure to the BSE agent.

European Funding

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, or plans to have, with the Scotland Office regarding any miscalculation of entitlement to Objective One funding for the Highlands and Islands.

Peter Peacock: Officials in the Scottish Executive are in regular contact with the Scotland Office and have appraised colleagues in the Scotland Office of the recent work undertaken by the Office of National Statistics to review the figures. The Office of National Statistics have now withdrawn their provisional revisions. There has been no miscalculation of the eligibility to Objective One funding. Eligibility is determined on the most up to date statistics available from all member states during the relevant period as determined by the European Commission.

  We will continue to work closely with the Scotland Office, and the Department for Trade and Industry who co-ordinate Structural Funds matters for the United Kingdom, should any revised UK statistics affecting figures for Highlands and Islands emerge.

  The most up to date statistics will be used in discussions about any entitlement to EU funds for the post-2006 period.

European Funding

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to the European Commission regarding any miscalculation of entitlement to Objective One funding for the Highlands and Islands.

Peter Peacock: The Executive keeps in regular touch with the European Commission. The Commission has confirmed that the regulations governing the current Structural Funds set a fixed date (26 March 1999) for establishing eligibility based on the data available at that time. Data which becomes available after that date cannot be taken into consideration.

  The Scottish Executive will use the most up to date statistics available in discussion about any entitlement to EU funds for the post-2006 period.

European Funding

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, or plans to have, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding any miscalculation of entitlement to Objective One funding for the Highlands and Islands.

Peter Peacock: Officials in the Scottish Executive are in regular contact with the Scotland Office and have appraised colleagues in the Scotland Office of the recent work undertaken by the Office of National Statistics to review the figures. The Office of National Statistics have now withdrawn their provisional revisions. There has been no miscalculation of the eligibility to Objective One funding. Eligibility is determined on the most up to date statistics available from all member states during the relevant period as determined by the European Commission.

  We will continue to work closely with the Scotland Office, and the Department for Trade and Industry who co-ordinate Structural Funds matters for the United Kingdom, should any revised UK statistics affecting figures for Highlands and Islands emerge.

  The most up to date statistics will be used in discussions about any entitlement to EU funds for the post-2006 period.

European Funding

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether transitional funding for the Highlands and Islands will cease in 2006 and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Peter Peacock: The current round of Structural Funds Programmes runs from 2000 to 2006. Allocation of funds ceases for all programmes at the end of 2006, although activity may continue to the end of 2006. Elements of funding in transitional programmes reduce after 2005. In Highlands and Islands, this relates specifically to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). However, part of the area will remain eligible. The regulations provide for coverage in 2006 for areas which meet the Objective Two criteria. This is not Objective Two status as such. It is merely a basis for determining eligibility for ERDF in the final year for allocating funds under the programme. We will be discussing with the Commission what this means in terms of precise coverage towards the end of 2003.

  The question of future regional funding is dependent on the outcome of discussions on the future of European Regional policy. Commission proposals are due to be published in 2004.

  The most up to date statistics will be used in discussions about any entitlement to EU funds for the post-2006 period.

European Funding

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any funding decisions of the European Commission being retrospectively reclassified in the light of new information or of such new information being factored into on-going and future negotiations.

Peter Peacock: The Commission has confirmed that the regulations set a fixed date (26 March 1999) for establishing eligibility based on the data available at that time. Data which becomes available after that date cannot be taken into consideration.

  The most up to date statistics will be used in discussions about any entitlement to EU funds for post-2006 period.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-28038 and S1W-30697 by Ms Margaret Curran and Mr Jim Wallace on 30 August and 29 October 2002 respectively, whether it has ever made any direct representations to members of the (a) European Parliament, (b) Committee of the Regions and (c) European Commission and, if so, under what circumstances such representations were made.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has held a number of meetings with and made representations to members of the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission. It is not, however, our practice to disclose details of such meetings or representations, which are often in the context of sensitive and confidential negotiations.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports Caledonian MacBrayne continuing to run a ferry service from Gourock to Dunoon.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to replace the Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route when the charter finishes on 3 April 2003.

Lewis Macdonald: The question relates to an operational matter for Caledonian MacBrayne Limited and should therefore be addressed to the Managing Director of the company.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why Caledonian MacBrayne did not produce a costed analysis of the roll-on/roll-off option for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route in the light of the Deloitte and Touche report in 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: The Deloitte Touche Report, which was published in 2000, rather than 2001, itself provides a detailed analysis of a number of options for Gourock Dunoon, including a roll-on/roll-off option suggested by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. In addition, an Addendum was produced which reported in more detail on the technical feasibility and viability of the roll-on/roll-off option.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct Caledonian MacBrayne to meet representatives of Argyll and Bute Council to discuss safety issues surrounding the Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route.

Lewis Macdonald: Caledonian MacBrayne met representatives of Argyll and Bute Council to discuss operational issues in respect of the Ali Cat on 10 and 17 December.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many scientists from the Fisheries Research Services are currently working on issues related to the future of the white fish sector.

Ross Finnie: It is estimated that the equivalent of some 40 staff are working on issues related to the management of stocks supporting the whitefish sector.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, or Her Majesty’s Government, has discussed with other northern member states of the European Union the imposition of additional fishing access restrictions on the Spanish fleet.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is not discussing with other member states any proposed fishing access restrictions that are specifically directed at Spain.

  Fishing access restrictions may not discriminate between the member states.

Scottish Executive Websites

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30633 by Nicol Stephen on 18 November 2002, whether the total costs given for the National Grid for Learning (Scotland) website are inclusive of VAT and whether the cost given for 1999-2000 includes all development work.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive provides a grant to Learning and Teaching Scotland to develop and manage the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) Scotland web services. This grant is outwith the scope of VAT. The NGfL Scotland web services are continually being expanded and updated, and therefore activities that might be characterised as "development work" are going on all the time. The cost given for 1999-2000 in the answer to question S1W-30633 includes all development work carried out in that financial year.

Scottish Executive Websites

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30633 by Nicol Stephen on 18 November 2002, for how many years the site is projected to be operational and what the budgeted cost is for each of those years.

Nicol Stephen: The National Grid for Scotland web services will continue to operate for the foreseeable future. Over the next few years they will evolve into an important part of the services of the Scottish schools intranet. Detailed budgets depend on progress with the Scottish schools intranet.

Scottish Executive Websites

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30633 by Nicol Stephen on 18 November 2002, whether it will give a breakdown of the expenditure incurred on the National Grid for Learning (Scotland) website.

Nicol Stephen: The National Grid for Learning Scotland web services are not a single website, but a complex collection of resources and services accessed through the single www.ngflscotland.gov.uk address .

  The budget for 2002-03 includes provision of the following services:

   
Core NGfL web services(including Scottish Virtual Teachers Centre and 
the Communities Channel) £450,000 
  Early Years Online
£130,000   5-14 
Online £140,000 
 NQ Online
£130,000   Total
£850,000

Scottish Executive Websites

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30633 by Nicol Stephen on 18 November 2002, whether the costs incurred in respect of the National Grid for Learning (Scotland) website were met from (a) the existing department budget and, if so, from what part of the budget, (b) new money allocated by the Executive or (c) a central advertising budget.

Nicol Stephen: The National Grid for Learning Scotland web services provides a range of resources, information and facilities for teachers, learners, parents, community groups and other stakeholders in education. Expenditure comes from the Education Department’s budget. In the most recent budget publication, The Scottish Executive Draft Budget 2003-04  ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/finance/dbd03-00.asp) , the expenditure is included in the "New educational developments" line in Table 3.03.

Scottish Executive Websites

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-30639 and S1W-31818 by Mr Frank McAveety on 31 October and 5 December 2002 respectively, what sums from existing departmental running costs were used to develop and maintain the Older People’s website.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Older People’s web section is an integral part of the Executive’s website. The work to develop and maintain it is being carried out by staff in the Older People’s Unit and is a routine part of their on-going work. It is not possible separately to identify costs for the Older People’s section.

Transport

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have applied for grants under the Powershift programme; how many of these grant applications have been approved and paid, and how much it has spent on the programme in each year since 1 July 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: The majority of Powershift grant applications are from companies rather than individuals. The following tables show Powershift grant applications that have been approved and paid, and how much has been spent on the programme in each year from 1 July 1999 to 30 November 2002.

  
 Year Number 
of applications Number approved 
and paid  1 July 1999-2000
57 33
 2000-01
221 116
 2001-02
141 85
 2002-03 (part year)
77 17


  In order to increase the uptake of LPG in Scotland, the Scottish Executive introduced its complementary scheme autogas+ on 1 July 2002. Autogas+ is funded from the Powershift budget. The following table shows autogas+ grant vehicle applications that have been approved and paid to date.

  
 Year Number 
of applications Number approved 
and paid  2002-03 (part year)
142 40


  The Scottish Executive took over financial responsibility for its share of the UK Powershift programme at devolution but direct funding of the initiative in Scotland has only been in place since 1 April 2000. Expenditure since that date is:

   
Year Spend (£)
 2000-01
345,000  2001-02
1,048,151  2002-03 
(part year) 307,000

Wildlife

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government on action that could be taken to combat the illegal smuggling of wildlife through ports in the light of the report by the World Wide Fund for Nature which identified the ports in Lerwick and Greenock as being in the top 10 wildlife smuggling ports in the UK.

Allan Wilson: The control of illegal trade in wildlife imported into the UK is implemented and enforced by the UK Government through the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 which set down the police powers, offences and penalties for breaches of the legislation.

  The Scottish Executive appreciates the concerns expressed by the WWF and the Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce (TRAFFIC) in highlighting potential weaknesses in the efforts of Government and its agencies in their efforts to combat illegal trade in wildlife. The Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on all aspects of wildlife crime through its membership of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW), which includes key Departments of the UK Government, the Police and other enforcement agencies.

  The Executive’s commitment to tackling the illegal international wildlife trade is clearly demonstrated through its funding in April this year of a two-year secondment of an intelligence officer to the UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, based at the National Criminal Intelligence Service in London.

  The specific issues relating to the level of illegal smuggling of wildlife through Scottish ports referred to in the WWF report will be raised by the Executive’s representative on the PAW Steering Group when it next meets in January 2003.

Wildlife

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to take action to increase the powers of the courts to tackle the illegal smuggling of wildlife into the country in the light of the report by the World Wide Fund for Nature which identified the ports in Lerwick and Greenock as being in the top 10 wildlife smuggling ports in the UK.

Allan Wilson: There are no immediate plans to take such action. The WWF report has only just been received and we will be giving consideration to its findings and recommendations in due course.